“Auld Lang Syne” is the traditional New Year's Eve song commonly sung at midnight.
The song is based on a Scots poem published by Robert Burns in 1788. Burns sent the poem to the Scots Musical Museum, describing it as an old song, so his role was partly that of collector and adapter rather than sole inventor of every line or melody.
The Scots phrase “auld lang syne” means roughly “old long since” or “for old times' sake.” The lyrics ask whether old acquaintances should be forgotten, making the song a natural fit for farewells and year-end reflection.
The tune and custom spread far beyond Scotland during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is now associated with New Year's celebrations in many countries, although it is also used at graduations, memorials, and other transitions. Different regions use different verses and musical arrangements.